Beyond the Basics Archives

Which way to diffuse is the best to fit your needs and style?

There are a lot of ways to diffuse essential oils; anything from a single tissue to a nebulizer can spread the therapeutic benefits of your favorite oil around. Really, the way you diffuse may also be a choice of style and how you want to accentuate the room you’re using it in.

For instance, are you loud and proud about your love and devotion to essential oils?

If you want a method of diffusion that is not only effective but also a possible conversation starter with other enthusiasts, a nebulizer might be just right for you! It doesn’t look at all like the more common ultrasonic diffusers with its unique design. To use it, a 10 mL bottle of your oil of choice goes directly into the diffuser for powerful, continuous diffusion. There is no heat or water needed – instead, an air pump atomizes the essential oils and releases the oil into the air in the form of tiny droplets, like a fine mist or spray.

By not using heat, which affects the chemical composition of the oils, and no water, which dilutes the oils, a nebulizer lets you enjoy 100% of all you oil’s benefits. Plant Therapy offers the Advanced Aromatherapy Diffuser; with built in on/off timers and output volume control for easy adjustment, this diffuser is powerful, compact, and simple to use. No pouring, no mess! Simply put your bottle directly on the atomizer and enjoy!

Next, there are the ultrasonic diffusers. When you think of an essential oil diffuser, this is the type that probably comes to mind. With a bit of water and some drops of your favorite oil(s), it puts off a fine mist that is readily absorbed by the lungs. Plus, because it uses water, this unit doubles as a humidifier. Plant Therapy’s AromaFuse Diffuser gives off 10 hours of continuous diffusion and covers about 500 square feet. It has a modern and stylish style so that it easily compliments any room. With ultrasonic diffuser, it is important to remember to give them a good cleaning whenever they need it, so that it will continue to work optimally. Here is a great resource for learning more about cleaning your ultrasonic diffuser:

For a nerve-calming and delightful blend for your ultrasonic diffuser, try this recipe! Just add and relax!

What if you don’t want any kind of diffusing machine, but still want to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy?

Room sprays are a cinch to make! All you need to do is fill a 4 oz. spray bottle with water or witch hazel and add 9 drops of oil for every ounce of liquid (this would be a 1% dilution – use 18 drops per ounce for a 2% dilution). If you choose to use water, keep in mind that you will need to use a preservative, such as Optiphen Plus, to keep the mixture fresh. Shake it before you use it, spray around the room, and there you are! Nothing to it.

A reed diffuser is another choice to gently fill a space with an oil’s aroma, similar to how a fragrant bouquet of flowers would. Plus, you can create your own unique look by using whatever types of reeds and bottles fit your style.

Place reeds in the bottle and let sit for 1 hour, then flip them over.

Turn the reeds over every five days or so for a burst of freshness.

Add a few more drops of your oil when the scent starts to dissipate.

If you’re looking for a way to diffuse in a subtle way that stays with you, aromatherapy jewelry may perfect for you. Plant Therapy offers different styles of aromatherapy necklaces and these make perfect gifts – either for yourself or someone else. These are very straight forward and a great way to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of whatever oil you want- without the aroma filling up the whole room. Our aromatherapy jewelry has a small felt pad inside the locket; put a couple drops of an essential oil on this pad and as the oil evaporates, the aroma reaches you! This is a very simple and subtle way to enjoy essential oils.

Try this blend to help lift the spirit with child-like joy and optimism:

Like aromatherapy jewelry, personal aromatherapy inhalers are a great way to enjoy essential oils on-the-go. Our Aromatherapy Inhalers are small enough to carry in your purse, keep in the car, or even bring to work without disturbing the people around you. Personal inhalers include a wick for the oils and a case that keeps it covered so that the aroma is trapped inside until you are ready for it. You can make your inhaler to customize exactly what you think you’ll need it for – whether you’ll need oils to help you relax, focus, feel confident, or help ease specific ailments or concerns.

Essential oils are great support for so many ailments we battle each day – which you probably already know if you’ve been reading out blog! But did you know these amazing all-natural oils can also provide relief for symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, or ADHD?

If the term ADHD sounds familiar, it’s likely because approximately 11% of all U.S. children have been diagnosed with it at some point in their young lives. That’s 6.4 million kids – one out of every 11. About 60% of children with ADHD become adults who have ADHD, which is about 4% of the adult population [1]. Maybe your own child has ADHD, your spouse or significant other, maybe your neighbor or co-worker’s children. The point is, ADHD is a pretty prevalent brain-based syndrome. It can cause real every-day challenges for both children and adults. These challenges can include controlling impulses and hyperactivity, staying organized, maintaining concentration and motivation, the ability to learn, and being able to enjoy regular deep and restful sleep. Relationships with others may suffer as well, since some people with ADHD struggle with their social skills.

So, essential oils can help?

Many essential oil’s primary properties include helping to increase focus, stay alert, and calm down the mind and body. These oils can be an amazing compliment to treatments already in place for an individual with ADHD (such as behavioral management, family training, and/or prescribed medication). However, whether you are a parent, an educator, an adult with ADHD, or anyone else interested in using essential oils for ADHD, approach cautiously. Since there is a very limited amount of research done on this topic, you should always consult with a physician before making any kind of changes to a treatment plan.

The most frequently cited case study done on ADHD and essential oils comes from the late Dr. Terry S. Friedmann, M.D., A.B.H.M. For a two year period (1999-2001), Dr. Friedmann experimented with oils on a group of 40 children, half of whom had an ADHD diagnosis, and half of whom did not (the “control” group). Each day, the children were asked to inhale essential oils when they began to feel “scattered.” For each essential oil Dr. Friedmann was testing, the children used it for 30 days. Ultimately, the study concluded that certain essential oils really did make a significant impact on the symptoms of ADHD. In particular, Lavender, Cedarwood, and Vetiver oils were used and Vetiver made the most notable success in improving performance [2].

Where should I start?

First, let’s take a moment to appreciate Plant Therapy’s unique blend of bright and uplifting essential oils that make up our A+ Attention Synergy. Perfect to help calm an overactive body while bringing focus and clarity, this synergy is a great place to start for anyone looking to support an individual with ADHD. A+ Attention is part of our KidSafe line of products, which means that each essential oil used in this synergy is totally safe for young children.

To use, just add 5 to 10 drops to a personal aromatherapy inhaler. There’s really no beating the convenience and ease of using a personal aromatherapy inhaler – it’s perfect to take to work or to pack in a child’s backpack so they can use it whenever they feel like they need it (but please check with the school first! Your district may have a policy about bringing essential oils to school, so check with the child’s teacher or administration). Or, dilute A+ Attention with a carrier oil (2-4%) and apply topically to the chest, back of neck, and wrists.

Another great option to support individuals with ADHD is our Clarity Synergy. The essential oils used in this blend have therapeutic benefits that enhance focus and memory. For any task requiring sustained mental effort, Clarity may be just what you need. Use it in the same ways directed above, but keep in mind that this is not part of our KidSafe line.

If you’re looking to try single oils for ADHD support, here are a few suggestions to start you off.

Remember, no two people are exactly the same. What may work well for one person may not work the same for another. The oils listed here are those known to be either calming for the mind and body or can improve mental clarity and boost memory.

Chamomile Roman– Soothing, comforting, and famous for its calming properties, this is an especially great choice if you’re looking for an oil to help get deep, refreshing sleep.

Lavender – Surprised? Of course not! Lavender is such a powerhouse oil with an incredibly wide range of therapeutic properties! It pops up all over the place. If you have an ailment, there’s a good likelihood that Lavender is on the list to help you get through it. For ADHD support, Lavender is known to reduce feelings of nervousness, bring calm to the mind, and, like Chamomile Roman, help the user to get a peaceful night of sleep.

Vetiver – While also a fantastic choice for promoting sleep, this oil was notably found most effective during Dr. Friedmann’s study. Further, it can help calm the ‘mind chatter’ that prevents the mind from focusing, leading to an increase in concentration.

Cedarwood – This is a great choice for creating a positive atmosphere and warding off negative thinking. It has a woody, rich scent known to calm the mind and balance emotions.

Frankincense– The soothing properties of Frankincense may be exactly what’s needed to help calm an overactive mind and body. Plus, it is also a great support to the immune system!

Try out these recipes for your diffuser or personal aromatherapy inhaler to enjoy their awesome therapeutic benefits!

I’m going to let you in on a little secret …well, not so secret if you know me. I have a tendency toward overthinking. Yep, my mind is seriously an overactive overachiever. And, if I don’t manage my mind, it can border on obsessive, repetitive thinking like a hamster running on the perpetual wheel to nowhere.

For as long as I can remember, my mind has been like a stalker on steroids in certain situations. It races ahead with thoughts that I sometimes struggle to process before it races on to the next. I talked fast as a child, and even now sometimes when I get over stimulated. I have been told this is a result of my mouth trying to keep up with my mind.

In some instances a fast-moving mind has served me well. Fast thinking on my feet was a plus in the corporate world, most especially when I worked in crisis communications. And, seriously, I’m the girl you want in an emergency making excellent lightening decisions with a laser focus.

On a day-to-day basis, though, not learning to slow overthinking can lead to a sense of feeling overwhelmed and overtired.

But, until several years ago, I didn’t know there was a way to slow the flow.

And, then, I attended a meditation workshop where I learned “the mind is like a monkey that has been stung by a scorpion.” (there are many variations on this theme from ancient Buddhist teachings).

That was an illuminating moment. Not only did this accurately describe the inner workings of my mind, but also for so many others from millennia to modern times. And, ancient medicine had already addressed how to control our thoughts rather than letting our thoughts control us.

In this last blog we discussed a type of obsessive thinking that occurs when the mind wanders into worry.

And, we detailed some simple practices to calm the mind by counting our breath coupled with aromatic companions that may be helpful for dealing with this type of distress.

Continuing that discussion, I wanted to share three other ways I find where overthinking can overtake my mind.

Creative Channeling

One of the things I’ve learned about my hard wiring is that I get super excited by cool concepts. I will then tuck this new notion away in amorphous form for future reference. Then, suddenly, something will trigger a lightening round where all the dots start to connect themselves at super speed and I am then able to perceive the idea in a prevailing pattern.

This process of coalescing into concepts I can now see sets in motion what I call creative channeling, Ideas and information begin to swiftly come together seemingly without effort as I furiously write to keep up with the flow lest the information making itself known become lost.

The upside to this is that it powers my passion and inspiration for writing. There are times when I can write like I am on fire and feel like I am simply a channel for the creativity flowing from fingertips to the keyboard.

One downside is I might find myself drafting at 3:00 a.m., or after I started meditation, because it is always the most quiet of moments that fuels the fire. I end up torn between needing sleep and needing to not lose the moment of creative flow. If I try to sleep, I worry it will be gone and my mind goes on repeat to try to remember.

Here are some ways I work to balance creative inspiration with creating quiet time:

Keep a tablet by the bed (paper or electronic) to jot down the notes.

Create more quiet time and space during the day to allow time to go with the flow

Get to bed at an earlier time knowing the channeling may come so I can get it down and get to bed.

Persistent Problem Solving

Sometimes a problem presents itself that we just want to get solved. So, we go over and over it in our mind seemingly into oblivion without getting it resolved. And, sometimes, we try to stay a step of ahead of what we imagine may come by trying to solve for the many iterations in advance.

Yet, when we go over and over something without a solution, it can lead us to fret on repeat. A good friend once told me repetitively asking the same question over and over again in our mind, when we don’t have the answer, is like continuing to hit the button on a computer keyboard when the operating system is stuck. You get nowhere, the computer doesn’t have a chance to reboot, and you can trigger a bigger issue.

I have learned if you have gone over many aspects of a problem and don’t yet see a solution, you likely don’t yet have enough information. Here it becomes important to be comfortable tabling the problem solving until you do. And, you have to get out of your own head and own way for the information to come.

Here are some ways I work on balancing problem solving with letting the mind off duty for the moment:

Keep a thought journal with you – just a small, thin booklet that is easy to carry in your purse or have on you at all times. Write down the question or problem you have and then let go trusting it is now written and doesn’t need to be held in your thoughts on a persistent basis.

Engage in introspective practices that calm the mind so you can hear yourself think. If you are repeatedly in asking/doing mode in your mind, you won’t be ready to be in receiving mode when the information makes itself known.

I find that different bits of information begin to come to me like pieces of a puzzle. I write them down even if I don’t know where they fit, just feeling and trusting that they do.

For me, eventually, the dots then just begin to naturally connect. Usually, when I am open and ready for the answer.

And if you are trying to solve for things that don’t yet exist, as the saying goes, “cross that bridge when you come to it.” Worrying about it now is a waste of energy.

Inquisition Into Infinity

Oh my gosh do I have a mind that likes to know things. I have an avid curiosity and a life-long love of learning. This passion has been a bonus in my professional and personal life due a love of research of inquiry. Knowing new things feeds my mind and my spirit.

But, when you take me as a whole, with the tendency toward all the ways my over zealous can mind overthink as outlined above, this is another area I can wander into the weeds of obsessive thinking.

I’ve noticed this especially with the advent of the smart phone. It can be problematic for a mind like mine to have a mini-computer in the palm of my hand. While I do have everything I need with me to manage my life at all times, I also have the ability to get sucked down a rabbit hole at any given time.

I can be adding something to my calendar and two hours later I am still watching a cooking demo for root vegetables. I’ve learned some really intriguing things, but probably not the best time or with the best use of my time, especially if it just before sleep.

I swear, I was only going to set my alarm and now I see a great video on how to curl my hair. Apparently, this is common as I am seeing more and more articles about our smartphone addiction overall.

This reminds me of the advent of email, especially at the office (yes, I am old enough to remember). At first, we would just get a few here and there. Then, when the concept finally caught on, we started to get barraged. The more we tried to respond instantaneously, the less we got done as all we were doing was reacting to email.

We learned to set aside time to review and respond to email to protect the most productive parts of our day and get our most pressing work done. We checked in the morning, after lunch, and later in the afternoon. In this way we were responsive, but not held hostage. Certainly, there were exceptions for things that were urgent, once we discerned that to be true.

This practice could also be suitable for how we keep connected through our smartphone. Not every notification is urgent and not every interesting item you chance across is important in that moment. This isn’t easy, I know. I am still really working on this. Anything my mind wants to know, at any given moment, I can Google with the flick of a finger and a few taps of my thumb.

Here are some other ways I am working to balance wanting to know now with not needing to know right now:

If you get notifications on your phone from various apps, discern if it is urgent or important, or just interesting. If it is urgent, respond. If it is important, decide if it is a priority over what you currently need to be doing. If it is just interesting save it for later.

Bookmark, to save posts on social media to save for later

Email articles and recipes and such to yourself perhaps to a folder of interesting things for later at leisure

Create certain times of day when you can go back and pursue the things that piqued your interest sand set yourself a time limit

Don’t pick up your phone before bed. Have everything preset for morning (seriously a hard one for a me and seriously a detriment to soothing sleep).

Aromatherapy for An Overactive Mind

The same practice of counting our breaths, as detailed When theMind Runs Amok, can cut the cord of continuous thinking beyond what’s beneficial.

To accompany your practices of overcoming overthinking, once again, aromatherapy makes an awesome ally. Essential oils excel at supporting the mind, and there are certain selections that are exceptional for repetitive and obsessive thinking.

I’ve combined my favorites into the synergies below with some suggestions for how they may best serve. As always, it is important to experiment so you can experience what works best for you.

Now, that you have had an insider’s look to my overactive mind, if you recognize anything familiar, I hope you find these suggestions helpful on your own journey to slow the flow!

All of these recipes are written as mini-master blends. You can add as written to your diffuser. To add to a personal aromatherapy inhaler, simply multiply the mini-master blend by 3 for 15 drops total.

Quiet Mind

For when the mind is working overtime running on that hamster wheel to nowhere. This is a great general synergy to take on the go for any situation from sunrise to slumber.

I just love this synergy when I need to just let go and drop into the zone for to introspection and meditation. I find it calming, centering, grounding and uplifting. This is one of my go-to’s to help bring me back to balance found in quiet time.

With a new year, many of us start a fresh set of intentions for improving our health and wellbeing. So, we count steps walked and clock miles ran. We count calories and reps at the gym or laps in the pool. And, some of us measure our BMI, numbers on the scale, or the inches around our waist.

But, what about counting our breath?

Wait. What? Why?

Ok, let me back up a bit.

We often put the focus squarely and solely on the measures of our physical health. But, ehnancing our emotional and mental health is just as important.

If you follow my blogs, you know I am an advocate for the mind, body, spirit connection and the impact it has on our wellness. When our whole being is in balance, we can find our own optimal level of wellbeing.

Our best of intentions for improving our vitality can be overtaken by our lack of attention to our state of mind. For a balanced equation in measuring our wellbeing, the mind most definitely matters. In fact, it is actually mission control.

So, what does this have to do with counting our breath?

When, our thoughts and emotions are out of balance, it can create havoc with our overall wellbeing. The good news is we actually have a built-in mechanism to take charge of where our mind travels. Simply counting our breath can help rebalance to our being. Coupling our breaths with an aromatic companion can create an even more enhancing experience.

When the Mind Runs Amok

Many of us, myself included, have a tendency to let our minds run away with us. I think of it as the mind running amok. Sometimes, I begin to worry or feel anxious solely because I am imagining all that can go wrong down to worst-case scenario for things that have yet to happen. This is especially true if I am about to experience change or make a big decision. Instead of focusing on faith that all will be well, I can “what if this, and what if that” myself into feeling fissures of fear.

Now, before I go on, I want to clear up any possible confusion. We aren’t talking about a deep sense of worry or anxiousness from significant situational, physiological to psychological issues.

Situational issues might include life’s major stressors such as divorce, job change or loss, financial change, a move, death or serious illness and so on. Physiological imbalances may include chemical imbalances in the mind and body that affect a healthy state of mind to the point of debilitating anxiousness, worry or sadness. Psychological issues could include PTSD, phobias or other mental, emotional impairments.

I have dealt with all of these, and while there are things I could do to help myself, I also needed the help of qualified health practitioners in partnership with my self-care.

But, what if outside of those significantly serious scenarios, we have a tendency toward worry? To imagine worse case scenario when it doesn’t necessarily exist? Can we support a happier state of mind through self-care?

The Short Answer is “Yes.”

Most of us know if we are “worriers.”

Worry is exhausting on all levels of our being and can diminish our ability to be well.

When we begin to remove worry as a constant source of distress, our whole being has the ability to rebalance and replenish. If left in a chronic state, continued distress of the mind leads to stress in the body, which can take a toll on our mental and physical health.

But, by becoming aware of our worry when we are in the moment, we can take control and switch our mind from autopilot run amok to a conscious state where we may steer our thoughts to back to slow and steady.

And, we can do this simply with two natural tools when we find our thoughts tail spinning for reasons not based in our current reality.

Let’s start with deep breaths and aromatic anchors. We can create a positive association in the brain by connecting a supportive affirmation with a soothing scent to make an aromatic anchor. In this way, we can quickly send a message to our mind that all is well when we subsequently smell the same scent again. This is a great practice to have when you find yourself wandering into worry and need to flip the switch.

First, we want to create an affirmation that is calming to us when our mind in a state of calamity. An affirmation is a positive thought used to replace a negative thought stated in the present tense. I like to use “all is well,” for example, but it is important to use what works for you.

We can enhance this experience by creating a practice combining our affirmation with counting deep breaths. When I was a child, and my emotions became stormy, my mom always told me to take deep breaths and count to three. Naturally, our mothers were right because we now know the deliberate act of slow, deep breathing sends signals to the brain to turn off the stressed state.

Next, we can choose an aromatic synergy that is soothing to us and supports the positive state of mind we are seeking. For this practice, I recommend either adding your synergy to a personal aromatherapy inhaler or diffuser jewelry so it can be with you to whiff when needed.

This is how it would work all together.

Choose your affirmation to repeat during times of worry

Choose your aromatic synergy to help soothe your senses

Create a personal inhaler

Use the following deep breathing exercise when needed

An Aromatic Deep Breathing Exercise:

Hold the inhaler under one nostril while gently holding the other nostril closed.

Begin to repeat your chosen affirmation to yourself.

Inhale your aromatic synergy gently, deeply, and slowly down into the lungs, feeling your belly expand, to the count of 3.

Hold a moment.

Exhale slowly, through the mouth, to the count of 3.

Repeat on the other side.

Repeat on each side if desired.

Suggestion for Creating Your Own Synergy

This is one of my all-time favorites for letting go of worry and bringing myself back into balance, especially when I find myself in a heightened state after the fact, or when I become aware of it beginning to bubble up from below:

Worry Free – blended to support a relaxed state of mind during times of tension and anxiousness.

Grounded Foundation — helps to soothe, calm and relax when you are feeling distressed by encouraging a sense of safety and security.

Calming Your Mind as as a Practice: Counting Your Breath and Aromatic Meditation

Because thoughts are things that can have real effect on our wellbeing, it is important to learn to drive our own mind, rather than letting it run amok. This is where meditation can make a great impact.

When we talk about the practice of meditation, it can create a variety of impressions depending on what you’ve heard or experienced. And, for those of us who are worriers, we don’t want the idea of this to be overwhelming.

What we are really talking about is simply a practice of calming the mind and learning to taking control of our thoughts, rather than letting our thoughts control us.

And, this practice of calming the mind works wonderfully both as a preventive measure and to be prepared when we become aware of thoughts heading in a wayward direction.

To keep this simple, here we also use the practice of counting the breath and aromatherapy. Here, again, aromatherapy is a great ally by helping to calm the mind, creating a sense of peace, and opening us to a higher state of consciousness.

I hope you find these practices combining counting your breath with aromatherapy as a companion helpful in easing your mind when you tend to wander into a state of worry. To truly enhance our overall wellbeing and vitality, it is important to care for our whole being. So, while you are focused on counting your steps to feel more fit, don’t forget to include a practice of counting your breath to create more calm on your journey toward the most fabulous feeling you!

Let’s not be modest — when a man walks past and wafts an alluring cologne, or a woman is seemingly always smelling of an aroma you find absolutely irresistible, it can seem impossible not to notice your sudden change in thoughts and emotions.

“Oh wow! That smells amazing!”

It’s the kind of feeling that causes a husband to get lost in the scent of his wife’s hair, or a woman to bury her face into her boyfriend’s worn t-shirt whenever he is away. These are smells that make you swoon and wish for more.

Some scents are quite simply intoxicating; they can directly affect emotional states and infuse your senses. Because of this, humans have been harnessing the power of aromatherapy for centuries, and it has deep roots in romantic history. Ancient civilizations used fragrances to cultivate desire and influence behaviors. The Egyptians, for example, enjoyed aromatic baths to make a more sensual environment for intimacy.

Cleopatra by Frank Dicksee (1853-1928)

Then there are the accounts of the legendary seductress, Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, that claim she carpeted her throne room floor with rose petals and massaged her body with a custom blend of rose, cardamom, and cinnamon oils to seduce Marc Antony upon his arrival. She would even order the sails of her ship to be doused with the fragrant oils to attract his attention further and awaken passions [1]. Additionally, the alluring characteristics of fragrance are also mentioned in the Bible, in Song of Solomon: “His cheeks are like beds of spices, mounds of sweet-smelling herbs. His lips are lilies, dripping liquid Myrrh” (Song Sol. 5:13 English Standard Version).

History tells us that smell has been long known as a central element of attraction, but what does modern science say?

You probably guessed it: Certain aromas really do work within the mind and body to spark feelings of sensuality and love. This is because smell links to the limbic lobe of the brain and activates the hypothalamus. Since the hypothalamus is the hormone control center, it regulates and stimulates sex drive, energy levels, and healthy hormone productions. According to Psychology Today, “Some researchers think scent could be the missing factor that explains who we end up with. It may even explain why we feel ‘chemistry’ — or ‘sparks’ or ‘electricity’ — with one person and not another.” [2]

Scents can operate so subtly they may be hardly detectable, and even the faintest fragrance can encourage thoughts of positivity and passion. When this happens, your sense of desire is heightened from the positive influences on your mood. If you’re ready to dive into the romantic qualities of aromatherapy, the essential oils of Ylang Ylang, Rose, Jasmine, Sandalwood, and Clary Sage are well-known to add to the desired ambiance. [3]

Or also, try Plant Therapy’s Sensual Synergy Blend, which was created by our Certified Aromatherapists to create an exceptionally romantic aroma. It’s perfect for those more intimate moments with your loved one.

Want a couple more ideas? Check out these recipes and get ready to open your heart up to some love and romance!

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During the month of February 2018, Plant Therapy is giving you the chance to win what you wish for!

SHOP

At PlantTherapy.com, create a wish list and add all the Plant Therapy items you want to shop for. You may create as many wish lists as you’d like!

SHARE

Let people know which gifts you’d like, via social media or email. Sharing your wish list each week enters you into that week’s drawing.

SAVE

When you share your list, Plant Therapy sends your friends/family a special coupon code for 10% off to use when purchasing your wish list items. This coupon code is valid for 7 days after issuance and cannot be combined with any other discount.

WIN

Each week during the month of February 2018, Plant Therapy will select 2 customers who will win the contents of their list.

To be eligible to win, you must:

Create a wish list.

Share it!

Winners will be announced on Monday from the wish lists created/shared from the previous Sunday-Saturday.

Rules: Customers may create as many wish lists as they choose, but will receive only one drawing entry per week. Create and share a wish list each week, Sunday-Saturday, to be eligible for the following Monday’s drawing. Email CS@planttherapy.com for complete contest rules.

The romantic qualities of Sensual Synergy will awaken passions with its exotic blend of floral and woody aromas. Reconnect and reignite the spark of love with the luxurious Marvelous Massage Carrier Oil, a diverse mix of nourishing oils designed specially to pamper the skin through body work.

This set will leave you feeling flirtatious, ignite your intimacy, and rev up the romance.

Marvelous Massage Carrier Oil Blend: Use topically in a circular motion; warm up to create a soothing massage.

Sensual Synergy: Diffuse a drop or two in the bedroom diffuser to set a romantic mood. Dilute to 3% in Marvelous Massage Carrier Oil Blend to promote closeness, or add to body care or bath products.

Then, turn the lights down low and put on your favorite romantic music. The rest is up to you…

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Plant Therapy is all about making our customers happy and thinking outside the box. When the recent vanilla shortage left us without that sweet, buttery, decadent scent, we came up with Peru Balsam for December’s Oil of the Month. For January, we have a different yummyness (technical term).

Massoia Bark, whose botanical name is Cryptocaria Massoy or Massioa, is steam distilled from the bark of the Massoia tree. This exotic beauty comes to us from Indonesia.

This oil is valued for it’s unique scent, which is perfume-like. It has a buttery, sweet scent. It reminds me of a pastry shop or cookie.

The main constituent within this essential oil is Lactone. It is what is responsible for the creamy, coconut-like aroma. The Lactone, a rare constituent in essential oils, is also responsible for the irritation to the skin. Consequently, we do not recommend Massoia Bark for kids, nor for topical use. It is meant for diffusing and aroma only.

This calming and decadent essential oil is great for emotional needs and to pamper yourself. It is not for little runny noses. It is not for cleaning. It is not for toenail problems. Massoia Bark is simply a great diffuser oil that works great while you are soaking in the tub, while you are dreaming of your next vacation, and while eating chocolates!

Happy New Year!

If you are like me, the advent of a new year brings the desire for a fresh start. New Year, New You!

Tradition and popular culture tell us to set new goals and go, go, go! But, many of us find our resolutions lose our attention until the best of our intentions melt away with the winter snow.

Why?

Most often, our resolutions revolve around the most surface level of our beings — our physicality and our personality. On a physical level we often focus on our looks and fitness. Exercise more. Eat better. Lose weight. On a personality level, we might focus on better behaviors. Be kinder. Be more patient. Listen more.

While the desire and success of these outcomes are worthwhile, I believe we need to start by going below the surface, where our longer-term well-being is more deeply rooted within our inner selves. When we start from the inside out, we support whole being by removing blocks to our better selves.

Wait… What?

Our physicality and our personality are often the most visible to ourselves and others, so it can feel natural to want to start there. But, this can be akin to trying to tune up your car’s transmission by changing the tires.

When we start with making over our outward selves, we may be ignoring issues influencing us from within. Left to fester, these concerns can manifest as symptoms we experience more externally.

If you ignore checking and changing the oil in your car’s engine, eventually you are going to run into transmission trouble. This is true with our own innermost workings as well.

So, I suggest switching gears. Instead of focusing first on resolutions for regimens to polish up our outsides, let’s start by setting our intentions to restore our sense of vibrancy from the inside out by releasing our natural energy flow.

Tuning In and Tuning Up our Chakras

In holistic approaches to care, we talk about mind, body and spirit. Together, these three interconnected aspects of our selves comprise our whole being and impact our overall well-being.

When we are working with the “spirit” part of our being, we can also refer to that as our subtle body. Our subtle body is that most amorphous part of our being. It includes our natural energy flow which we may be considered as our our life force. It is what animates us and brings a sense of vitality and vibrancy when we are in balance.

When this vital balance to our natural energy flow is disrupted by stress, negative thinking, wounds or traumas, it can bog down and create blocks. Left over the long-term, these blocks can begin to impact our overall well-being.

One way of tuning in to our natural energy flow is through the chakra system which comes to us from ancient Ayurvedic medicine and modern energy balancing techniques. From this perspective, we have 7 major chakras aligned along our spine located in ascending order from base to crown. Each chakra intersects with specific functions of our mind and body.

These chakras, which translate to “wheel” take in energy and move it throughout our beings as they turn. Our overall well-being depends on these chakras being open, and their ability to move energy through a pathway of freely flowing open channels from one location to the next.

This state of being in balance supports our bodies’ own natural healing mechanisms. When our chakras are out of balance, it can bog down our vibrancy and sense of vitality leaving us feeling flat in mind and body. Disruptions in our energy flow, left unchecked, can create blockages that affect our ability to bounce back into a state well-being eventually appearing as physical concerns and conditions.

The good news is we have the ability to tune in and tune up by adding some self-balancing technique to our self-care routines.

Simple Ways to Start

This blog is not intended to deal with the deepest of imbalances, but rather to introduce you to some simple steps to get us started . Like aromatherapy, the study of our chakra system and its effects on our wellness can be an endless exploration of study — an exciting one that I encourage, if it interests you.

What we want to do here, is to begin by checking under our hood to see where we might need to nourish and replenish our sense of vitality. If we can do a tune-up ourselves, great! But if there are more serious issues, it is always worth considering professional support.

Instead of waging war with our superficial selves, we are going to practice peace within our innermost selves. To tune into our own inner workings, we are going to look at some common imbalances with each chakra, see if they might inspire our own inner awareness, and add some simple self-balancing techniques.

Aromatherapy combined with practices to be present and purposeful in calming the mind, body and spirit, can create a wonderful synergy to enhance our experience in restoring our sense of balance, harmony and well-being within our whole being.

In this practice of subtle aromatherapy we use aromatic essences to help support balance in our natural energy flow by choosing those that can resonate with certain chakras . You can read our previous blog, “What Exactly is Subtle Aromatherapy” for more detailed information.

I hope this information will inspire you in getting started with a new and better you from the inside out, while encouraging you to continue your exploration to enhancing your wellness from within.

Choosing a Synergy to Support Your Chakras

When you embark on an expanded study of subtle aromatherapy, you will find many ways to choose essential oils to enhance balance in your chakra system.

For the beginner, those on the go, and experienced practitioners alike, Plant Therapy offers the Chakra Synergy Essential Oils for ease in accessing your practice. Each synergy was created with the intention of supporting balance in for each of the unique chakras.

To invite inspiration and intuition, I have offered some examples below of experiences so common they get expressed in our everyday language. These are often outward reflections of an inner imbalance, though we may not have thought of them that way.

If you find these resonate with your experience, you will find the chakra most often associated with these concerns, as well as suggested synergies and self-balancing practices. Please keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list, but simply a guidepost to start you on your own exploration through introspection and greater self-awareness.

Intention: Use this synergy to support clear communication in integrity with yourself and others. Helps to connect to our inner essence, as well as higher consciousness, so that we may know and outwardly express our authentic selves through truth.

“She has no vision.”

Possible Imbalance: 6th Chakra/Throat

Location: Center of Throat

In Balance: Ability to clearly “see” conceptually and symbolically through intuition, perception, visualization and imagination.

Intention: Use this synergy to quiet the conscious mind and encourage introspection. Promotes the ability to “clearly see” through intuition, insights and clarity. Invites creation energy and inspires possibility.

“She seems to have lost her way.”

Possible Imbalance: 7th Chakra/Crown

Location: Top of Head

In Balance: Sense of connection to a higher consciousness, higher purpose, and higher self while remaining firmly grounded.

Intention: Use to help strengthen your purpose and ability to connect to higher spiritual consciousness. Gently encourages strength in our spiritual growth to know greater love and deeper purpose.

Choose a Mindfulness Practice

Subtle aromatherapy works best in combination with mindfulness practices to help bring balance to our well-being. You may wish to choose from these practices below, or perhaps you already have something that works best for you.

Intentions – setting a clear purpose and using your synergy with that purpose in mind.

Choose a Method of Application

Once you have chosen your chakra to bring into balance, selected your synergy for support, and focused on a practice to bring balance, it is important how best to integrate your aromatic essences to enhance your experience.

You will find below some suggested methods of application for the chakra synergies in combination with each mindfulness practice, but feel free to choose what works best for you.

Because you are working with your spirit, or subtle body, we recommend you use these synergies at much less intensity than you would for your emotional and physical needs so as not to overwhelm the senses.

When we at Plant Therapy learned that we would no longer have that rich, sweet scent of Vanilla… well, it was a sad day.

Peru Balsam to the rescue!

The blog linked above also mentions another oil — Peru Balsam — which has been December’s Oil Of the Month.

Peru Balsam has that sweet scent; a coconut, vanilla aroma that brings the joy back to blending. Like vanilla, it is calming and comforting. It is a quiet, happy scent that finds that child in you and makes you stop, close your eyes and take it all in.

"Our ultimate goal is not to be the largest essential oil company; it is to positively impact the lives of as many people as humanly possible. Ultimately, we feel this is possible only by providing our customers with an exceptional experience that keeps them coming back. By selling such a high quality product at an affordable price, we not only positively affect the lives of our customers, it also gives us the financial means by which we can help those who are less fortunate to live a happier, healthier, and more productive life." – Chris Jones, President of Plant Therapy Inc.